Nick Thieneman (Young Widows) Bass Amps?

Duncorama · #1 07-27-2010, 10:17 AM

Hello, just a quick question to resolve a burning question, does anyone know what model ampeg amps Nick uses?
I had it in my head that he uses the 450 solid state for some reason?

snowblinder · #2 07-27-2010, 12:04 PM

I believe you're right. If I remember correctly, it was either an Ampeg 450H or a 350H. I think he has always used two heads though, and I believe the second amp is an Ampeg 200T. Could be wrong on that.

A large part of his sound (which is great) comes from a Proco Vintage Rat, which is constantly on.

Duncorama · #3 07-27-2010, 01:18 PM

Cheers man! Aye that is a truly massive sound, i've tried the rat myself but could never get it to do much, it always sounded a bit too dead for my liking.

snowblinder · #4 07-27-2010, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duncorama

Cheers man! Aye that is a truly massive sound, i've tried the rat myself but could never get it to do much, it always sounded a bit too dead for my liking.

What settings were you using, if you don't mind me asking? I had trouble with my Vintage Rat for years, never being able to dial it in just right. I've since found that it sounds best to my ears with the distortion just below 9:00, i.e. almost dialed out completely, the filter almost all the way up, and the volume at 2:30. It can get overbearing and buzzy for bass with too much distortion. Just adding that hint of bite really sounds great though, in my opinion.

Nick has a killer sound. I've known that guy for about 11 years, and I was blown away the first time I heard him playing bass. Huge. There's also some serious Krist Novoselic influence going on there, which he'd be one of the first to admit....

Duncorama · #5 07-27-2010, 02:24 PM

Ah you're friends with him? Send him my regards! heh.
I tried all sorts with that pedal, couldn't get anything i liked out of it, it just sounded really buzzy, with now body or anything.
At the moment i'm using an old boss thing that i found, it sounds ok but waaaaaay too fuzzy, i'm looking for something with a lot more bite at the moment. I like how he gets the balance between the dry and distorted tones, spot on.
Do you have a link to any music you're doing?

snowblinder · #6 07-27-2010, 03:42 PM

Yes. I'm actually, oddly enough, in a band with Geoff Paton, who was Young Widows' original drummer. Here is a link:

www.myspace.com/trophywivesofkentucky

Duncorama · #7 07-28-2010, 04:37 AM

Ah cool, yeah it sounds good. I can definately hear the QOTSA influence in there which is ace.
Proper solid!

whoatherechunk · #8 09-02-2010, 11:34 AM

i know there are pics of his gear around here on the threads, but anyone have any clear shots of his cabs?

whoatherechunk · #9 09-02-2010, 11:37 AM

whoops forgot to add....i've seen tons of pics with his vertical cabs, but he uses 212/115 and i haven't that configuration before.

fu22ba55 · #10 09-02-2010, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snowblinder

I believe you're right. If I remember correctly, it was either an Ampeg 450H or a 350H. I think he has always used two heads though, and I believe the second amp is an Ampeg 200T. Could be wrong on that.

A large part of his sound (which is great) comes from a Proco Vintage Rat, which is constantly on.

Is that the setup he used when recording 'Old Wounds?' Absolutely stellar tone on that record. It's hard to get a good bass tone to come across when recording.

for those unfamiliar...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgdv5JVJhHY

Din Of Win · #11 09-02-2010, 11:55 AM

I snapped a bunch of photos last November when i saw Young Widows and Russian Circles in Richmond... like, my two favorite heavy bassist playing the same show!!!

Unfortunatly the pics didn't turn out well at all

But i remember the 450h (possibly 2?) and i sware there was a Sunn something-or-other (if it WAS i'd guess a 2000s).

Cab-wise... emperor!!! Sadly i couldn't tell what the speaker layout was... but the 1x15/2x12 sounds like what would have fin in it. Big cab. Really wide.

tahbass · #12 09-02-2010, 11:56 AM

I saw Young Widows play live with Russian Circles last fall in Tempe, AZ and it looked like their guitarist and bassist had wired two big cabs together so that each of their signals came out from both cabs for a really great stereo sound. I didn't catch what amplifier the guitarist was using but the bassist looked like he had 2 Ampeg SVT CL (or similar model) and the cabs were DEFINITELY made by Emperor. The cabs were super cool, looked like they had 2x10's or 2x12's and then a 15" or 18" on the bottom and then they had installed lights on the cab as well (which was the only lighting they had for the entire set, it was pretty badass).

Din Of Win · #13 09-02-2010, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tahbass

I saw Young Widows play live with Russian Circles last fall in Tempe, AZ and it looked like their guitarist and bassist had wired two big cabs together so that each of their signals came out from both cabs for a really great stereo sound. I didn't catch what amplifier the guitarist was using but the bassist looked like he had 2 Ampeg SVT CL (or similar model) and the cabs were DEFINITELY made by Emperor. The cabs were super cool, looked like they had 2x10's or 2x12's and then a 15" or 18" on the bottom and then they had installed lights on the cab as well (which was the only lighting they had for the entire set, it was pretty badass).

Hell yeah!

Love those lighted cabs!

When i saw Breather Resist years ago, i was blown away when they started playing. The whole place was dark... and BOOM!!!

(loved BR WAYYYY more than YW)

JoshuaTSP · #14 09-02-2010, 12:39 PM

bump.....I'm curious....that's great dirty bass tone.

It's an Ampeg 450h?

megadan · #15 09-02-2010, 12:53 PM

I saw them a few years ago with Metz (great Toronto band).

Here's a couple pics I snapped:

YW1 by megadan33, on Flickr

YW3 by megadan33, on Flickr

I'd say most of the sound is in the Artist (that's a Gibson Artist, right?) and the Rat. And of course the Emperor cabs

beebassdude · #16 09-02-2010, 01:01 PM

that wooden amp looks like a verellen Meatsmoke.

Din Of Win · #17 09-02-2010, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beebassdude

that wooden amp looks like a verellen Meatsmoke.

+1

Or, i want to say i also heard that it was an ampeg (or sunn or SOMETHING) with a custom Emperor housing built for it.

LOVE that Gibson RD Artist. He and Brian Cook also have First Act Delgadas that sounded AMAZING too. Before those, Nick used a sweet beat up Fender Jazz (black n' maple!)... he also used the Jazz on his album with 'Brain Banger'.

http://www.myspace.com/brainbanger666

fu22ba55 · #18 09-02-2010, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beebassdude

that wooden amp looks like a verellen Meatsmoke.

+1 Something Verellen for sure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by megadan

I'd say most of the sound is in the Artist (that's a Gibson Artist, right?) and the Rat. And of course the Emperor cabs

Yes that's an RD Artist, but I don't think that has anything to do with his tone. The RD pickups don't have that much character. They sound pretty flat. He's must be workin' the Ratt and the heads to get that tone.

Din Of Win · #19 09-02-2010, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fu22ba55

Yes that's an RD Artist, but I don't think that has anything to do with his tone. The RD pickups don't have that much character. They sound pretty flat. He's must be workin' the Ratt and the heads to get that tone.

It's a combination of a bunch of stuff...

Here's a sweet shot that shows some of his board:

(via the effects forum)

beebassdude · #20 09-02-2010, 01:34 PM

im buying an artist tomorrow. couldnt be more stoked to plug it in my to rig of doom and blow my house up lol!